A Reform UK councillor on Dartford Borough Council (DBC) has defected to the Conservative Party, citing growing “discomfort” with his former party.
Jeremy Kite, the Conservative leader of the council, confirmed Friday that James Buchan, representing the Stone House ward, will now sit with the Conservative group, which holds the majority on DBC.
Buchan, who secured his council seat in July’s by-election, stated that Reform UK “doesn’t really have the experience or ambition” necessary to achieve his political objectives.
A spokesperson for Reform UK expressed “disappointment that Councillor Buchan has decided to betray the voters” who elected him “just a few months ago.”
In a statement, Buchan said: “I stood for election with the sole aim of working for my community and getting things done for local families.”
“Having had the opportunity to see Reform from the inside I’ve concluded that the party doesn’t really have the experience or ambition to do that.”
He further alleged that Reform UK relies on “rhetoric and slogans, which isn’t going to help real families in communities like Stone House.”
“The more I saw of Reform, the more uncomfortable I felt to be part of it,” he added.
Welcoming Buchan to the Conservatives, Mr. Kite stated: “James wanted to be able to look his family and friends in the eye and tell them he has served them well, and he knows with Reform he couldn’t do that.”
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